Penzance Harbour · Cornwall

A little berth. A world of your own.

A ship-inspired cabin a few yards from the sea, with a large garden all to yourself and views across Penzance Harbour — a quiet corner to drop anchor for a while.

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A wooden chair and side table on the sunlit terrace, with a mug, a book and tulips, looking over the railings to the blue-green water of Penzance Harbour
The terrace, looking over Penzance Harbour

A welcome ashore

A ship’s cabin, set down by the sea

Ship Ashore is a cabin made in the manner of an old ship — portholes, ship’s clocks and blue-and-white stripes — set just a few yards from the water at Penzance Harbour, with a large, enclosed garden kept for you alone.

Step in through the gate at the bottom of Abbey Slip and the bustle of the town falls quietly away. Watch the boats come and go from the terrace, linger over breakfast by the harbour window, and let the days find their own pace. However long your stay, make yourself at home ashore.

Discover the garden
A paddleboarder on the green water of the harbour, seen through one of the cabin’s round portholes
The harbour, framed by a porthole
  • Setting A few yards from the sea
  • Garden Large, enclosed and yours alone
  • Entrance Private, off Abbey Slip
  • Sleeping One bedroom, two single beds

The cabin

Snug quarters, full of light

Inside, the cabin is fitted out with a shipwright’s eye: painted panelling, portholes and windows that frame the harbour. Like any good cabin it is compact and cleverly arranged, with everything close at hand.

The white-panelled bedroom, with two single beds made up in white linen and navy throws, striped curtains and two brass ship’s clocks
The bedroom, with its two single beds

The bedroom

Two single beds lie side by side beneath striped curtains and a pair of ship’s clocks, made up with fresh linen. True to life aboard, each bed is 61 cm wide — narrower than a standard single, though of normal length.

The terrace

Outside, a terrace with outdoor furniture and sea views — the place for your first cup of tea, or a glass of something as the evening draws in.

The kitchen, with blue-grey cupboards, wooden worktops, a small porthole, a coffee machine and a steel sink

The kitchen

A fully equipped kitchen with wooden worktops, a porthole for company and all you need to cook a proper supper — or simply to put the kettle on.

The dining nook, with cushioned benches and a wooden table laid for two beside a wide window over the harbour

The dining nook

Cushioned benches and a little table sit beside a wide window over the water: the best seat in the house for breakfast, a map and a plan for the day.

Aboard, you’ll find

Everything for an easy stay, with a few thoughtful comforts.

  • Bed linen and towels
  • Bathrobes
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Dining area
  • Terrace with outdoor furniture and sea views
  • Private entrance
  • Exclusive use of the garden

The garden

A garden of your own

Beyond the cabin lies a large, enclosed and long-established garden, kept for your use alone. Camellias and hydrangeas grow against old stone walls, and the harbour is never far from view.

A marble-topped garden table with wine glasses and a vase of flowers beneath a tree, looking across the calm water of Penzance Harbour towards the town
The garden, looking across Penzance Harbour
A black wrought-iron chair on a circle of pebbles strewn with pink camellia petals, with the harbour beyond the old garden wall
The sheltered corner beneath the camellias

Three places to settle

  1. The Lookout

    With a view across the harbour, this is the place to sit and watch the boats come and go.

  2. Beneath the camellias

    A sheltered, secluded corner under the camellia trees — just right for a book, a quiet hour and, in season, a scattering of petals.

  3. The olive tree

    At the north end of the garden, a seat beneath the olive tree is made for the first coffee of the morning.

The harbour & beyond

Penzance on your doorstep

Ship Ashore sits right on the waterfront, with St Michael’s Mount across the water in front of the cabin. The promenade is a short stroll away, and the far west of Cornwall lies within easy reach.

The blue cabin behind white railings and pink hydrangeas, above the old stone harbour wall and quayside
Ship Ashore, seen from the harbourside

Near at hand

Penzance Promenade
about 400 m
St Michael’s Mount Across the water, in front of the cabin
about 6 km
Land’s End Airport
about 13 km
Minack Theatre
about 16 km
Lizard Lighthouse & Heritage Centre
about 40 km

All distances are approximate.

Useful to know

Before you come aboard

A few plain facts about the cabin, so that you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.

  • Getting in

    Ship Ashore has its own private entrance, reached through the main gate at the bottom of Abbey Slip.

  • The beds

    There is one bedroom with two single beds. Each bed is 61 cm wide — narrower than a standard single — but of normal length.

  • Low door frames

    In keeping with the ship-inspired interior, some door frames are low. Please mind your head.

  • The shower

    The shower is in a separate room outside the cabin, rather than indoors. Bathrobes are provided.

  • Parking

    There is no on-site parking. Harbour Car Park is about 200 yards away and is pay-on-exit. Its postcode is TR18 2GB.

    Find Harbour Car Park on a map

  • Booking and questions

    Availability and reservations are handled through Airbnb, where you can also send any questions to your host.

A wooden door in a granite wall with a Ship Ashore sign above it, reached by stone steps with handrails
The entrance to Ship Ashore
The tiled shower room, with a glass-screened shower cubicle
The shower room, separate from the cabin

Come ashore, and stay a while

Whether it’s a few days’ shore leave or a long, unhurried week, a little berth beside the harbour is waiting for you.

Check availability on Airbnb

Availability, reservations and questions for your host are all handled through Airbnb.